House Speaker Mike Johnson has revealed that discussions with Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have centered around the possibility of clawing back federal funds allocated by the Biden administration in its final days. Johnson emphasized the need to scrutinize the spending decisions made by the current administration, which he views as reckless, before the transition of power in January.
According to Johnson, the focus of these discussions has been on exploring the authority to claw back funds and halt what he perceives as irresponsible spending. The objective is to investigate and expose these actions to the public, with the aim of initiating the necessary changes.
Ramaswamy echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of closely examining last-minute decisions made during the transition period. The scrutiny of such actions is deemed crucial by DOGE and its leaders.
One significant aspect of the forthcoming efforts, as outlined by Johnson, will be the discontinuation of remote work for federal employees. This move is seen as a strategy to reduce the federal workforce through attrition, as reported by a source.
Johnson emphasized the mission of DOGE, which is dedicated to enhancing government efficiency. He described it as a new initiative that aligns with the changing landscape in Washington and America.
